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3.58 AVERAGE
3.58 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
SPOILER ALERT!!!!
Tarzan doesn't get the girl in the end. ***SOB*** You have broken my Disney heart....
Enjoyable read, but I think Hollywood did a much better job with these stories than ERB did.
Tarzan doesn't get the girl in the end. ***SOB*** You have broken my Disney heart....
Enjoyable read, but I think Hollywood did a much better job with these stories than ERB did.
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
Before I give what I liked and what I didn't, I will admit that yes, this was an almost comically sexist and racist book. Never in my life had I read a book more sexist and racist other than the Elsie Dinsmore series. However, this was published in 1914 - so I have more mercy on Burroughs than I would (obviously) if it were created in today's time.
What I Liked
This is an adventure story. No matter how poor of a writer Burroughs may be, he's a storyteller. He tells us what we want to hear. Tarzan of the Apes wrestling wild beasts and being talented and handsome and exotic... it's entertaining and I turned page after page, delighted in the super hero/fairy tale fantasy.
I loved learning about how intelligent Tarzan was, how he taught himself how to read. Far-fetched, sure, but if an author makes me believe there is the vaguest of possibilities, then I'll accept it. The concept of language for Tarzan was also very interesting. He could read English, but he had no idea of phonics because it had never been taught to him. So if someone wrote him in English, he could understand them perfectly, but if they spoke in English he was at an absolute loss.
What I Didn't Like
Obviously, blatant racism, sexism, and xenophobia are not on my list of things I desire in a read. To a point, I'll let Burroughs off with the ignorance of his time, but the things he writes are extreme at times... and they become distasteful.
The flowery writing is poor. It's no joke - Burroughs was an AWFUL writer, although a lovely storyteller. It's comical and sometimes very cringe-worthy.
What I Liked
This is an adventure story. No matter how poor of a writer Burroughs may be, he's a storyteller. He tells us what we want to hear. Tarzan of the Apes wrestling wild beasts and being talented and handsome and exotic... it's entertaining and I turned page after page, delighted in the super hero/fairy tale fantasy.
I loved learning about how intelligent Tarzan was, how he taught himself how to read. Far-fetched, sure, but if an author makes me believe there is the vaguest of possibilities, then I'll accept it. The concept of language for Tarzan was also very interesting. He could read English, but he had no idea of phonics because it had never been taught to him. So if someone wrote him in English, he could understand them perfectly, but if they spoke in English he was at an absolute loss.
What I Didn't Like
Obviously, blatant racism, sexism, and xenophobia are not on my list of things I desire in a read. To a point, I'll let Burroughs off with the ignorance of his time, but the things he writes are extreme at times... and they become distasteful.
The flowery writing is poor. It's no joke - Burroughs was an AWFUL writer, although a lovely storyteller. It's comical and sometimes very cringe-worthy.
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
An interesting look into early American stories. This book is true male escapism. Overall an interesting look into the historical attitudes at the time, however, I am bored with the shallow character of Tarzan. Maybe I'll try reading this again, but I doubt it. It was fine to read when I was actively reading, but I struggled to want to pick up the book and start after each time I put it down.
Some very problematic imperialism / colonialism ideas, racism, and sexism. Buried beneath all that is a pretty dumb but also cinematic and entertaining story. The only really developed character is Tarzan himself; half the other characters exist as comic relief, and Jane is basically an object to be desired and/or controlled by every male in the story. Tarzan is the only one who actually seems to care about what she wants (which is maybe the point??). I liked it enough that it made me want a better version of Tarzan, so I'm going to rewatch the Disney version and let the sweet sounds of Phil Collins sooth my conflicted feelings.